Compensating garter



June 5, 1945. L. RosEMAN COMPENSATING GARTER Filed May 8, 1943 2Shee'ts-SheekI l June 5, ROSEMAN COMPENSATING GARTER Filed May 8, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 5, 1945 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFEicECOMPENSATING GARTEB.

Leo Roseman, Newark, N. J.

Application May 8, 1943, Serial No. 486,145 vs claims. (ci. 2"--315iThis invention relates in particular to hose supporters or garters forladies wear, especially garters of the types that are associated withbodyencircling belts, girdles or corsets.

Hose supporters wherein the stocking is held at both its front and rearby elastic garter tapes which depend from the corset or belt, areunsatisfactory because unequal strains are placed upon the engagedportions of the stockings durling various positions of the body of thewearer, such as while walking, sitting or bending. Such strains causetearing of the stocking as Well as discomfort to the wearer. The problemhas become especially serious because the limitations on the use ofrubber due to the war have made it necessary to nd some substitute forelastic tapes in hose supporters.

`corset or belt so that the strains placed on said -front and rearportions of each stocking shall be equalized during all positions of thebody of the wearer, such as while walking, sitting or bending, and thestocking shall be held sufficiently taut at all times to prevent itsslipping down.

My invention especially contemplates a flexible. non-elastic connectorsuch as a tape that has its ends connected to the front and rearportions of the stocking and has its intermediate portion slidable in aguide on said corset, girdle or belt, so that, for example, as the rearend of the tape is pulled downwardly by sitting or bending of the bodyof the wearer, the front end will be pulled upwardly, whereby thedownward pull at the rear is compensated by relaxation of the tension atthe front and the strains at the front and rear engaged portions of thestocking are equalized. In such devices, however, certain portions ofthe tape must slide relatively to the skin or underclothing of thewearer and the friction thus produced is undesirable; in fact suchrubbing of the tape over the skin might result in painful chafing orabrasion of the skin. Similar conditions are also incidental to use `ofshoulder straps on certain gements.

Accordingly other objects'of my invention are to provide a compensatinghose supporter of the general character described or a shoulder strap orthe like which shall include novel and improved means for preventingdirect contact of the aforesaid tapes or straps with the skin orunderclothing of the wearer; and thus to enclose the tape or theportions thereof which otherwise might contact with the body of thewearer, within a longitudinally extensible and contractible, iiexibletubular housing so that said tape may slide through said housing and thelatter may extend and contract to accommodate longitudinal movement ofthe tape. y

A further object is to provide in such a compensating garter a novel andimproved guide and support for said tape to encircle the body; whichshall ensure free sliding of the tape with a minimum of friction; whichis devoid of met-al parts; which can be formed of fabric easily andinexpensively on automatic machines and shall be strong and durable;whichV shall permit easy threading of the tape therethrough tofacilitate adjustment, renewal and repair of the parts; and

which shall permit adjustment of the tape relative to the guide so thatthe end portions of the tape can be caused to depend from the guide atdifferent positions circumferentially of the latter, whereby said endportions can be connected to the stocking at the points most suitable tothe comfort and convenience of the wearer.

A further object is to provide a guide of the character described for anequalizing or compensating hose supporter which shall comprise a stripof fabric in the nature of a belt, smooth and devoid of projections orprotuberances and which shall have a channel to extend girthwise of thebody in which said tape may be nested and may freely slide smoothly andwithout bulging.

Another object is to provide a compensating hose supporter of thischaracter which shall include a novel and improved quick-detachableconnection between the guide and the compensating or equalizing tape, sothat if desired the ends of the tape can be permanently connected to thestocking and the stocking can be disconnected from the guide by simplylifting the tape out of the guide.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be broughtout by the `following description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which: Y

Figure l is a perspective view of a compensating hose supporterembodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hose supporter, on a reducedscale, showing the manner of applying it to the body which isillustrated in standing position.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the hose supporter showing itapplied to the body which is illustrated in a seated position.

' Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged transverse vertical sectional view onthe line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary vertical sectional views on the lines 55 and 6 6 respectively of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the front portionof the hose supporter shown in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure l showing a modification of theinvention.

Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary vertical sectional views on the lines 99 and Ill-lll of Figure 8, respectively.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modiiicationof theguide for the equalizing tape.

Figure 12 is a similar view of another modification,

Figure 13 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line I3 I3 ofFigure 12.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a modication of thetubular exible housing structure and Figure 15 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a modification of the means for connecting theequalizing tape.

Specifically describing the invention. the hose supporter includes asupport A to encircle the body above the hips, in which is mounted anequalizing garter B for each stocking to be connected at spaced pointsin its length to the stocking, so that the equalizing garter and thesupport may freely move relatively to each other to compensate forvarious positions of the body such as those occuring during walking,sitting and bending.

The support A may constitute the lower edge of a girdle or corset, or asshown, may comprise a belt. Preferably the belt comprises a length oftextile fabric I which has its longitudinal edge portions turnedinwardly at 2. A plurality of guide elements such as the cross strips 3of fabric are secured to the main strip I in spaced relationcircumferentially or lengthwise of the strip in a row. The cross strips3 are secured at spaced points in their lengths to the main strip I asby lines of stitches 4 and the portions of the cross strips between thestitches 4 are free and spaced from the main strip I as clearly shown inFigure 4. 'I'he cross strips thus serve as guide elements for theequalizing garter B.

Each of these garters isshown as comprising a length of suitable wovenfabric tape or other material 5 which is threaded between certain of thecross strips 3 and the main strip I with each end of the tape projectingfrom the belt between two adjacent cross strips 3 as shown in Figure l.Preferably the ends of the cross strips 3 are located between the mainportion and the intumed edge portions 2 of the strip I so that saidinturned edge portions provide a channel between them in which the tapes5 are nested and slidable. With this construction the belt is smooth anddevoid of projections or protuberances. The belt may include also areenforcing or backing strip Ia which may be of cushioning material, ifdesired.

The end portions of each tape are so related to the belt that when thebelt is applied to the body one of said end portions will be located atthe front of the body while the other end portion will be located at therear of the body, and as shown by Figure 1 suitable clasps 6 may beattached to the ends of the tapes for connecting thetapes to thecorresponding stocking C. If desired, the end of the tape may bedirectly connected to the clasp and have a suitable adjusting `device 1,or the end of the tape may be attached to a tab 8 which may be eitherelastic or inelastic and has the corresponding clasp 6 attached theretoin the usual manner.

Suitable means may be provided for attaching the belt to and removing itfrom the body, but as shown, one end of the belt has hooks 9 whichcooperate with cross strips I0 similar to the cross strips 3, beneathwhich the hooks 9 may be engaged for connecting the ends as shown inFigure 2.

When the belt is applied to the body, the clasp 6 at the front of eachequalizing garter B is connected to the front portion of thecorresponding stocking while the clasp 6 at the rear end of the tape isattached to the rear portion of the stocking. The length of the tapeinitially will be adjusted to snugly hold the stocking in its properposition when the body is erect, as shown in Figure 2.

As the body moves from one position tc another, the equalizing tapes 5will slide relatively to the belt A through the guideway provided by thestrip I and the cross strips 3 so as to equalize the strains and pullson theportions of the stocking to which the clasps 6 are connected. Forexample, as shown in Figure 3 when the body is in seated'position therear end portion of the tape is pulled through the guideway in the beltand this pull is compensated by the relaxation of the forward endportion of the tape. As the body is moved into upright position, theforward end ot' the equalizing tape will be pulled and the rear endportion will be simultaneously relaxed so as to again equalize thestrains exerted on the stocking by the clasps 6.

To prevent direct contact of the equalizing tape with the skin or theunder-clothing of the wearer during such movements of the body I providea tubular, flexible housing through which the tape is threaded looselyfor relative sliding movement.

As shown in Figure 1, this flexible housing is designated II and has itsforward and rear ends iixedly secured to the forward and rear endportions respectively, of the tape 5 as by stitches I2. The tubularhousing extends throughout the guideway so that the equalizing tape mayslide through the housing.

Preferably the housing comprises a exible. extensible and contractiblematerial such as a bias woven fabric tube, for example a tubular wovenlace, whose normal cross-sectional area i. e. before extension orcontraction, is considerably greater than that of the tape. Also thetubular housing preferably is of a normal length greater than thedistance between the points of connection I2 thereof to the tape, sothat the housing may extend and contract as shown in Figures 3 andI 5 toaccommodate movement of the equalizing tape incident to movement of thebody.

As shown in Figure 3, the forward portion of the tubular housing is heldagainst movement at the point where it enters the guideway in the beltand has collapsed or contracted between that point and the clasp 6,while the rear portion of the housing has extended or elongated.

of the belt together The housing thus ensures against rubbing of theequalizing tape on the skin or underclothing of the wearer in sucharnanner as might cause chaflng or abrasion of the skin or undue wearingof the underclothes, and the housing does not in any way interfere withor hinder free operation of the equalizing tape.

It will be observed that the extension and contraction of the tubularhousing' initially will occur at the points where there is the leastresistance, i. e. where there is the least frictional contact of thehousing with the body; and consequently those portions of the housingwhich are pressed against the body, for example at the crest of a curve,will remain stationary and effectively protect the body against rubbingby the tape or by the housing unless and until a body movement ofexceptional magnitude requires extension or contraction of such portionsof the housing to compensate the movement of the tape.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figures 8 to 10 inclusivewhere the belt D is in general similar to the belt A and has the crosspieces I3 corresponding to the cross pieces 3 to form guideways for theequalizing tapes I4. In this form of the invention, the tubular housingdoes not extend throughout the length of the guideways. n the contrary,the tubular housing I8 for the forward end portion of each equalizingtape I4 has one end xedly secured to the belt as by stitching I5 and itsother end portion attached by a short flexible tape I6 to the stockingengaging device I1 to which the equalizing tape is connected in themanner hereinbefore described. The ends of the tie-tape I6 are attachedto the housing IB and to the stocking engaging device I1 as by therespective stitches |60 and IGI.

However, if desired the tubular housing may have one end fixedlyconnected to the belt and its other end unattached to the equalizingtape.

This is shown on the rear end portion of thel equalizing tapeillustrated in Figure 8 where the tubular housing I9has one end securedto the belt at 20 and the other end simply turned inwardly to preventfraying as indicated at 2I.

` The operation of both forms is about the same, the two housings I8 andI9 extending and contracting yto accommodate longitudinal movements ofthe equalizing tape. However, the short tie-tape I6 will positively pulland extend the tubular housing I8 as the forward end portion of theequalizing tape is pulled forwardly, whereas the housing I9 generallywill simply follow the movement of the equalizing tape by frictionalcontact between the two.

If desired, the ends of the equalizing tape may be permanently connectedto the corresponding stockings and the tapes may be quickly detachablefrom the guideway in the belt. For example, as shown in Figure 11 theguide in the belt may comprise a plurality of hooks 22 which are securedto the belt in spaced relation circumferentially thereof and have theirmouths opening upwardly so that the equalizing tape 23 may be insertedinto and removed from the hooks through said mouths. With the ends ofthe equalizing tape attached to the stocking it will be seen that inorder to detach the stocking from the belt it is simply necessary toremove the equalizing tape from the hooks 22.

. Another structure for accomplishing this same result is shown inFigures 12 and 13 where the guide comprises a plurality of eyes or loops24 which are separably connected to the belt in spaced relationcircumferentially thereof and have the equalizing tape 25 threadedtherethrough. l

As shown the belt comprises a strip of fabric 26 which has onelongitudinal edge portion returned upon the main portion as at 21 and aplurality of stitches 28 passing through the re-` turned portion and themain portion in such a manner as to form gaps or pockets 29 to receivethe bills 30 of the hooks which are connected to the loops or eyes 2l.

With the structure embodying the invention I it will be observed thatthe guide for the equalizing tape is strong and durable and can beeconomically produced on automatic machines. There is a minimum offriction between the equalizing tape and the guide, and the tape can beeasily threaded into and removed from the guide. The belt is smooth andthe equalizing tape is neatly nested in the guideway so that it mayslide freely and comfortable without wrinkling or bulging. 'I'he tubularhousing prevents frictional contact of the equalizing tape with the bodyof the wearer so as to prevent injury to the skin or the clothing; andat the same time where the tubular housing extends through the guideway,it serves as a guide surface for the equalizing tape and ensures aminimum of friction as the result of relative movement of the belt andthe equalizing tape.

It will also be observed that should the equalizing tape become brokenthe tubular housing will prevent dropping of the stocking low enough tocause embarrassment.

The invention eliminates the necessity for elastic tapes although ifdesired, short sections of elastic may be utilized between theequalizing tape and the stocking engaging clasps.

The spaced cross strips provide a plurality of lateral openings for theguideway through which the tape may be threaded selectively to permitproper relationship between the points of connection of the tape to thestocking andi the points at which the tape projects from the guideway;for example, it allows the front and rear end portions of the equalizingtape to be moved to the right or to the left to permit the tapes to beconnected to the stockings at points most comfortable and convenient tothe wearer.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the guide and theequalizing tapes could be mounted on the lower edge of a long-linebrassire, if desired, instead of upon the belt A or upon a corset orgirdle. With such an arrangement the tapes would prevent upward.slipping of the brassire.

In many cases it may be desirable to utilize two tubular flexibleextensible and contractible housings 3I and 32 which are telescopicallyassociated with each other as shown in Figure 14. The two housings maybe of different lengths so' that they may move relatively to each otheras the corresponding equalizing tape is longitudinally moved. Thisstructure is particularly advantageous in that it restrains or reducesthe buckling or wrinkling of the housings which is incident to movementof the equalizing tape as illustrated in Figures 3 and 7.

In all forms of the invention shown, when applying the tubular housingto the tape, it is desirable rst to thread the tape through the housing,then hold one end or one point in the length of the housing in fixedrelation to the tape. whereupon the housing is stretched to its limitover the tape. Then the housing is contracted or buckled by pushing thefree portion thereof toward the above mentioned xed point a distanceapproximately equal to the distance that the tape must move toaccommodate movement of the body of the desired magnitude. Then thehousing at its free end or at ,a point in spaced relation to thefirst-mentioned iixed point is secured to the tape.

In order to distribute the strains imposed upon the stocking by themeans for attaching the equalizing tape to the stocking, I may secure aloop 33 adjacent the top edge of the stocking as shown in Figure 15,said loop to be separably engaged by a suitable hook 34 which isattached to the equalizing tape 35 in any suitable manner. The loop issecured at distantly spaced points 36 as by stitching to the stocking sothat the strains from the equalizing tape are applied to the stocking atthe two points 36 of attachment of the loop to the stocking. Any othersuitable form of loop may be utilized and the loop could be secured tothe stocking in any suitable way as will be understood by those skilledin the art.

Furthermore, it will be readily understood that the different ways ofattaching the tubular housing to the guide and to the equalizing tapesmay be utilized in various combinations other than those shown andspecifically described; and while I have shown the invention as embodiedin various details of structure, the construction of the hose supportermay be modied and changed by those skilled in the art within the spiritand scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A compensating hose supporter comprising a support including meansfor attaching it to the body, a tape to be connected at spaced points inits length to a stocking, said support having a guideway through whichthe portion of said tape between said points is slidable to permit freerelative movement of the body and said tape during walking, and atubular, flexible, extensible and contractible housing connected to saidsupport and extending throughout said guideway with a portion projectingbeyond each end of said guideway, said tape being slidable through saidhousing, whereby said housing prevents direct contact of said tape withthe body and with the clothing of the wearer.

2. A compensating hose supporter comprising a support including meansfor attaching it to the body, a tape to be connected at spaced points inits length to a stocking, said support having connected thereto aguideway including a tubular bias woven extensible and contractiblefabric tube having its end portions extending beyond said support, theportion of said tape between said points being slidably threaded throughsaid tube to permit free relative movement of the body and said tapeduring walking, bending or sitting.

3. A compensating hose supporter comprising a support including meansfor attaching it to the body, a tape to be connected at spaced points inits length to a stocking, said support having a. guideway including atubular extensible and contractible fabric tube having its end portionsextending beyond said support, the portion of said tape between saidpoints being slidably threaded through said tube to permit free rela.-tive movement of the body and said tape during walking, bending orsitting, and a plurality of guide elements separably attached to saidsupport in circumferentially spaced relation and in which the portion ofsaid tube between said points is mounted.

LEO ROSEMAN.

